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Movie Review: 12 Golden Ducks

The 3rd CNY movie release from Clover Films
Also launched on 19th February
The local audience are spoilt for choices when it comes to choosing movies this CNY
I have watched all the installments of Golden Chickens and definitely will not miss out Golden Ducks
Needless to say, there are loads of eye candies in the movie
And there’s also a special appearance by Lu Han

Lu Han, the Beijing born K-pop singer from EXO
His name recently gained a mention in the Guinness Book of Records for having the most comments on Weibo
In 12 Golden Ducks, he showcased his dancing tactics that would make women go crazy

Following the phenomenal box office success of Golden Chickensss that grossed over HK $40million in its 2014 Chinese New Year release, Director Matt Chow and Actress-Producer Sandra Ng have teamed up once again to create another Hong Kong classic: 12 Golden Ducks.

Combining elements of comedy, romance and action, 12 Golden Ducks is a comeback story about the misadventures of a group of gigolos (referred to in local vernacular as “ducks”) trying to make their mark in Hong Kong. As with any profession, they have went through their share of setbacks. But their ability to find laughter within the tears reflects the drive, passion and the indomitable spirit of the Hong Kong people.

Sandra Ng, portray a male gigolo
Which is a breakthrough for herself
Donning a body suit of a man with chest and abdominal muscles, she carried off the role perfectly

I would definitely watch it again
As 12 Golden Ducks is definitely worth a 2nd view in full cantonese
instead of chinese conversations
Made in Hong Kong,
I am sure I’ll have twice the amount of laughter I gave at the premiere
If I get to watch it in its original format
So I can understand the cantonese humour fully

With its star studded cast
The movie does not give you the feel that the makers just wanted to present the guest actors
They actually make you feel that everyone fitted the script and the appearance is definitely much needed

Official Movie Synopsis

A group of middle-aged men are playing mahjong; it’s the St. Stephen Lutheran Middle School reunion party.

It’s the St Stephen Lutheran Middle school reunion party and a group of middle-aged men are playing mahjong, while watching a TV program whereby a group of women discuss their experiences of hiring gigolos. CHAN, a stockbroker, watches with disdain. The rest, however, know only too well that there’s no gender divide when it comes to selling oneself for money. They all service women in one way or another for a living, they include:

– MR. LO a retired teacher turned singing coach who drives women into a frenzy with his Cantonese Opera singing;

– ROCKY a fitness trainer who mesmerizes female students with his well-muscled physique;

– JAMIE a pastry chef/instructor who is frequently molested by students during class;

They all “live off women’s money,” something that is looked upon with disdain in Chinese culture!

As the others excitedly exchange stories about their experiences, Mr. Lo notices the absence of his star pupil, former school heartthrob, FUTURE. The group reminisces about Future, in awe of his skills at earning women’s money. Future is rumored to be traveling the globe. But Broker Chan and the class monitress who were both victims of a school prank by Future, reveal that Future is actually down-and-out. The former monitress shared that she bumped into Future at a Go-go Bar in Bangkok, and Future was so unkempt and out of shape that he turns off patrons.

Feeling sorry for Future, Mr. Lo flies to Thailand to track him down at the Go-go Bar. Hoping to help Future regain his former swagger and confidence, Mr Lo convinces Future to return to Hong Kong to start anew.

Returning to Hong Kong, Future works hard to regain his former good looks and killer physique with the help of his old classmate, Rocky, the fitness trainer. He eventually receives a call from Mr. Lo for a trial gig at Loy-Loy. Determined to reclaim his rightful place among the gigolo ranks, Future eagerly enters Loy-Loy only to discover that he has been sent to an old-age nursing home to entertain grannies….

Directed By

Matt Chow

About Producer Sandra Ng

Sandra Ng is widely recognized as the most bankable actress in Hong Kong. She has earned the title of Hong Kong’s Highest Box Office Actress, accumulated more than HK$715million in Hong Kong as of 2005. Having starred in over 100 films, she is crowned the Queen of Comedy by many with her fame as the box office champ of Chinese New Year movies, including the 2009 highest grossing Hong Kong films All’s Well End’s Well 2009(2009), All’s Well End’s Well Too(2010),I Love Hong Kong(2011), Mr.& Mrs. Incredible (2011) and All’s Well End’s Well 2012(2012).Her films in the past 5 years have grossed overHK$700million in China alone. Her latest CNY movie Golden Chickensss(2014), received over HK$40million in Hong Kong, is the No.1 grossing Hong Kong movie of first half of 2014.

Ng entered the show business during the golden period of the Hong Kong film industry in the 80s. Her hilarious, filthy persona has made her standout from other actresses and landed her countless comedic roles in movies such as The Greatest Lover(1988) with Chow Yun-Fat and All’s Well End Well(1992) with Stephen Chow and Maggie Cheung. But it wasn’t until her performance as a triad leader in Portland Street Blues(1998) that earned her recognition as a serious actress and won her the Best Actress award in the Hong Kong Film Awards. She continued to challenge herself in different roles such as a mob wife in Dante Lam’s Jiang Hu: The Triad Zone(2000), a Tango dancer wannabe in Andrew Lau’s Dance of a Dream(2001), a prostitute in Samson Chiu’s Golden Chicken (2002), in which she received her second Best Actress award in the Golden Horse Awards, a bisexual woman in Ann Hui’s All About Love (2010)that brought her another Best Actress trophy from Asian Film Festival of Rome and a humble housewife in Echoes of the Rainbow(2010), of which the film has won the Crystal Bear Award in Berlin Int’l Film Festival and earned Ng a Best Actress nomination in the Hong Kong Film Awards.

Twice the goodness, I get to watch Louis Koo in action from Triumph in the Skies to 12 Golden Ducks this year!I grew up watching his works from TVB dramas to the big screens
& he has never failed me
His youthful looks and well kept bod amazes all of us out there

It’s probably the first time ever Nicholas Tse had a gay role
He was in the closet for decades, only stepping out when he bought Future (Sandra Ng) out on a job
It was pretty comical

Pakho Chau, a leading singer in the Hong Kong Entertainment industry
Composed many songs for talents in the region
He was largely caressed by women in the movie

The fake Eddie Peng
If you’re thinking how can this old dude make a living off women
He showed them Eddie Peng’s photos and said that was his past

Anthony Wong charges high costs for teaching women to sing and providing the full orchestra service

A cameo role as Future’s father who was so honest he could not help but tell women the truth of their body shape
While Future is the complete opposite of that

The new Duck gang Future joined to make a comeback
I love that lilac hair of the dude who makes alienated conversations
believing he was sent from the stars
– this was definitely to make fun of the popular Korean drama

Kay Tse (wife of Louis Cheng)
is Future’s school teacher

Simon Yam, the expired gigolo who now makes money from ex clients by selling them healthcare products

Michelle Chen, who shot to fame from The Apple of My Eye
plays a cheaterbug and also the love of Future

Ivana wong had to speak Thai in the movie
and she was actually very convincing!

Fiona Sit is a stressed out secretary who is fearful of her boss but have nowhere to vent her frustrations

But hire a duck to hear her out and vented all her anger

Sit back and laugh your hearts out with 12 Golden Ducks and I’ll leave you with more snippets from the movie